Mauritius trade deficit for November down 23% as exports rise

Mauritius trade deficit for November stood at Rs 7.99 billion ($264 million), down 23.2% compared to the year-ago period, on the back of higher exports, according to Statistics Mauritius data released yesterday.

However, the trade deficit, representing the gap between export and import of goods, was higher by 18.3% on a month-on-month basis for November 2013, compared to October 2013.

Revenues from sales of machinery and transport equipment drove up exports, which rose 13.3% year-on-year to Rs 7.46 billion. The category witnessed increased sales to the tune of Rs 466 million, compared to Rs 90 million a year ago.

However, on a month-on-month basis, total exports decreased by 8.3% compared to October 2013, chiefly on the back of lower sales of food and live animals, which declined by 12.1% to reach Rs 2.09 billion in November, against Rs 2.37 billion a month ago.

On the imports front, goods bought from overseas fell 9% to Rs 15.45 billion from Rs 16.98 billion a year ago, driven by lower costs of mineral fuels and lubricants. The category showed 30% de-growth to reach Rs 2.98 billion in November 2013, against Rs 4.29 billion a year ago.

On a month-on-month basis, total imports climbed 3.8% compared to October 2013, again on the back ofmineral fuels and lubricants, which rose 11.8% to Rs 2.98 billion in November 2013 from Rs 2.66 billion in October 2013.

Britain was the main buyer of goods from Mauritius in November accounting for 17.7% of total exports, while India supplied 22.1% of the island nation’s imports.

Besides, France (13.6%), USA (9.9%), and South Africa (7.6%) were the other major exports destinations in November 2013 while the other imports came mainly from China (17.2%) and France (8.9%).